Knowledge and Attitude to cornea donation and corneal transplant among adults in a rural community in Imo State

FIDELIS ANYIKA

Authors

FIDELIS ANYIKA FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, OWERRI

Keywords:

Attitude, Eye donation, Knowledge, Respondents

Abstract

Background: Globally, blindness secondary to corneal pathology affects about 5.5 million people bilaterally and another 6 million people unilaterally. Inadequate awareness and a poor attitude regarding eye donation among the public have been reported as a major draw-back to corneal donation in Nigeria.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude to eye donation among adults in Umunama community and identify the socio-demographic determinants of the knowledge and willingness or otherwise of adults to eye donation.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. A total of 361 respondents made up of 55.1% males and 44.9% females (M: F =1.2:1) participated in the study. Data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS Statistics version 25.

Results: About one-third of the respondents had knowledge about eye donation. About 44% of the respondents were willing to donate their eyes, while 42.4% were willing to donate the eyes of their relatives. The commonest reason for willingness to donate was service to humanity (45.5%) while negative cultural beliefs (28.6%) were the major reason for unwillingness to donate eyes.A positive attitude to eye donation was more likely among females and older respondents.

Conclusion: Focused health education by all cadres of health care workers to members of this community especially the males and younger age group on the importance of eye donation is recommended.

Views | Downloads: 30 / 7

References

Ey W, Kong X, Wolle M, et al; Global Trends in blindness and vision impairment resulting from corneal opacity 1984-2020; A meta-analysis.

Ophthalmology 2023; 130; 863-87110. 10161j. optha.2023.03.012.

Dineen B, Gilbert CE, Rabiu M, Kyari F, Mahdi AM, Abubakar T, Ezelum CC, et al. The Nigeria national blindness and visual impairment survey: rationale, objectives and detailed methodology. BMC Ophthalmol 2008; 16-19.

Federal Republic of Nigeria. Legal Notice on Publication of the details of the breakdown of the National and State provisional totals. 2006 Census. Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette 2007; B175-198.

Ehler N. Corneal banking and grafting.The background to the Danish eye bank system, where cornea awaits their patients. Ophthalmologistca Hono- rary Lecture: Acta Ophtha-mologica Scandinavia. 2002; 80: 572-583

Mehta JS, Fukuoka H, Shimizu E, Hjortdal J. Current status of corneal Xenotransplantation. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2007 Spring; 47(2): 59-80. Doi: 10.1097/110. 0b013e31805b76e0.

Hozhausen et al. Xenotransplantation of genetically modified pig corneas into non-human primates: Graft survival and safety, “xenotransplantation”, 2022.

Nui et al.,inactivation of porcine endogenous retrovirus in pigs using CRISPR-Cas 9, science 2017”.

Muhiuddin et al., “Genetic engineering of pig-to-non human primate organ xenotransplantation.” Transplantation, 2019, Cooper et al., Xenotrans planta- tion: progress, challenges, and prospects, Curropin organ transplant, 2012.

Babalola OE, Samaila E, Ezepue E, Waziri-Erameh J, and Abiose A. Acceptability of post mortem donation of cornea among Nigerians. Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology, 1995; 3(2): 26-34.

Waziri-Erameh JM, Omoti AE, Edema OT. Knowledge and attitude of Nigerian Ophthalmologists towards corneal donation and corneal graft. Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research 2007; 61: 26-34

Babalola OE, Samaila E, Ezepue E, Waziri-Erameh J, and Abiose A. Acceptability of post mortem donation of cornea among Nigerians. Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology, 1995; 3(2): 26-34.

Waziri-Erameh JM, Omoti AE, Edema OT. Knowledge and attitude of Nigerian Ophthalmologists towards corneal donation and corneal graft. Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Research 2007; 61: 26-34

Biswas J, Bandyopadhyay S, Das D, Mondal KK, Saha I, Ray B. A study on awareness about eye health care and eye donation among secondary level students of North Kolkata, India. Kathmandu Univ Med J 2010 Jun-Sep; 8(31): 317-320

Yuen Christine, Burton William, MA, Chiraseveenuprapund Peter, Elmore Erin, Wong Susan, et al. Attitude and Beliefs About Organ Donation Among Different Racial Groups. Journal of the National Medical Association 1998; 90 (1): 13-18.

Bhandary S, Khanna R, Rao KA, Lavanya G Rao Lingam KD, Binu V. Eye donation – Awareness and willingness among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia. Indian J Ophthalmology. 2011; 59 (1): 41-45.

Singh MM, Rahi M, Pagare D, Ingle GK. Medical students’ perception on eye donation in Delhi. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2007; 55: 49-53.

Conesa C, Rios A, Ramirez P, Canteras M, Rodriquez MM, Parrilla P et al. Attitudes toward organ donation in rural areas of south-eastern Spain. Transplant proceedings. 2006; 38 (3):866-868.

Krishnaiah S, Kovai V, Nutheti R, Shamanna BR, Thomas R, Rao GN. Awareness of eye donation in the rural population of India. India J

Ophthalmology 2004; 52(1): 73-78.

Gupta A, Jain S, Jain T, Gupta K. Awareness and perception regarding eye donation in students of a Nursing College in Bangalore. India J

Community Med. 2009; 34(2):122-125.

Okoye OI, Maduka-Okafor FC, Eze BI. What does the medical student know about eye donation/corneal transplant? The University of Nigeria scenario. West Indian Medical Journal.2010; 59 (1): 41- 44.

Duggal M, Brar GS, Prassad VS, Gupta A. Public attitude toward eye donation in North-western India. Transplant Proceedings. 2003; 35(1): 19-20.

Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria: Corneal grafting act of 1973, cap 69: 3053-3054.

National Health Act, 2014 No.8 A 141. PART VI. CHAPTERS 48-57